Manslaugher Conviction Follows Death Of Wife

A top banker who strangled his wife during a row after she asked for a divorce has been convicted of her manslaughter.

Neil Ellerbeck, aged 46 of Canford Close Enfield, was found guilty yesterday, 13 October, at the Old Bailey in relation to the death of 46-year-old Katherine. He will be sentenced on Wednesday 14 October.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at about noon on Friday 14 November last year and found a body found at an address in Canford Close, Enfield.

The victim, Katherine Ellerbeck, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination at Hornsey Mortuary gave cause of death as asphyxiation and manual compression of the neck.

Mr Ellerbeck was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged.

The court heard the victim had more than one extra-marital affair. Her husband secretly taped her phone conversations as proof.

It's believed she finally asked for a divorce and during a row he strangled her.

He called 999 and said he had arrived home to find his wife unconscious and not breathing. In court, he claimed he was unaware of his wife's infidelity.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Simon Pickford from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "The victim, Kate Ellerbeck, was a lively and bubbly woman whose life was brought to a premature end when her husband Neil Ellerbeck lost his temper.

"Ellerbeck was a controlling and jealous man whose marriage was falling apart. Over a number of months he covertly recorded more than 127 hours of his wife's conversations and scrutinised her text messages.

"Both he and Kate were involved in extra-marital affairs and this all culminated in the events of 14 November 2008," he said.

Ellerbeck had stood trial for murder but was found guilty of manslaughter after the jury accepted he did not mean to kill his wife.

(BMcC/KMcA)